Hawaii Biological Survey's


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13. O`ahu Tree Snail / pupu

Scientific name: Achatinella sowerbyana

Classification: Phylum: Mollusca. Class: Gastropoda


Origin: Native

Status: USFWS Endangered Species

Distribution: O`ahu

Sound file: --

Map: --


Very few species of the once plentiful Hawaiian tree snails are alive today. They are the unfortunate victims of another snail that was introduced to get rid of a pest snail, not this group of snails. The species pictured is one of the few survivors. Native Hawaiian tree snails (Hawaiian name is pupu) do no damage to the plants they live on. They eat fungus from the surface of leaves.

   Photo by W.P. Mull